Chapter28
Katelyn
“You doing okay?”Sawyer asks me.His tone is strained as he slowly works the bindings on his wrists.I’ve been doing the same, but so far, I’ve done nothing but bloody up my hands.
“No.”
“We’re going to get out of here,” he tells me.
“How can you be so sure?”
“Because I’ve been in far worse situations than this and survived.”
“When you had a team that knew where you were.They don’t know where we are, Sawyer.What if?—”
“You have to stay calm, Katelyn.Do you trust Garrison?”
“Of course.”
“Then trust that he will tear apart this world to find you.I’m just lucky because that means he’ll find me, too.”He winks, trying to lessen the tension.
“How do you know?”
Sawyer stops tugging at his restraints and looks at me.“Because if it were Anastasia, nothing short of death would keep me from bringing her home.”It’s the closest I imagine he’s ever gotten to admitting his feelings.“Besides, Garrisonlovesto save me.Just you wait; he’ll never let me live this down.”
I smile, feeling a bit of relief thanks to his optimistic outlook.Still, what if he’s wrong?What if they don’t find us in time?
The door opens, and Earnest walks in, a furious expression on his face.
Which only fuels my joy.“You didn’t find him.”Thank You, Lord.Thank You for keeping him safe and bringing Garrison into our lives.
He doesn’t respond to me, just reaches behind him and rips a gun free from a holster at Leo’s waist.His muscle looks honestly surprised—and slightly annoyed.
I hold my breath as he turns, leveling it on Sawyer’s face.“Talk.I’m done playing games.”
“I—”
“Not an answer.”He drops it and fires.Sawyer grunts, the bullet tearing through the flesh of his shoulder.Blood saturates his chest, dripping down from the wound like nasty red teardrops.
“No!Stop!”
“Talk.”
I open my mouth to respond, to beg for Sawyer’s life even as I’m sure it won’t do any good.But before I can, an explosion rattles the building.The floor shakes violently beneath us.The lights flicker, and dust sprinkles down on top of us.
“What was that?”Earnest demands.
Sawyer grins.“Boom, baby.That would be Demo.I hope you’re ready for war, Marks.Because it’s on your doorstep.”
“Not a chance.”Earnest shoves Leo’s weapon back into his hand, and he re-holsters it.“I’m not having this ruined by some has-beens playing soldier.Cut her loose.”
This is my only chance.I remain perfectly still as Leo cuts my legs free, but the moment my last wrist is free, I lunge forward, kneeing him in the chest and reaching for the gun at his waist.
Someone yanks me back by my hair, and pain explodes along my scalp.My vision goes blurry, and I stumble backward, losing my balance.
“You’re already in it, Marks!Let her go!”Sawyer yells.“Hurting her will only make it worse for you!”
“Kill him.Find the boy.If the team is here, they left him unprotected.”
“No!Let me go!”I fight against his hold, but Marks pushes me against Bradley’s chest, and I’m dragged from the room.
Sawyer’s gaze is wild as he thrashes against the chair, his focus on me and not the man currently closing in on him—a knife in his hand.